Now Commenting On:

Hart making slow progress in rehab

Email

Print

Hot Stove on Hart's surgery 2:53

MLB.com's Hot Stove talks about Corey Hart's knee surgery and breaks down the impact it will have on the Brewers going into 2013

By Adam McCalvy
/
MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- Corey Hart marked another milestone last week in his comeback from right knee surgery, but things are moving more slowly than he expected, and he could not say whether he'd be ready to return when his stint on the disabled list expires May 30.

"It really depends. If I have one really good week, then I can go play [for a Minor League affiliate]," Hart said before the Brewers departed Miller Park for their current road trip. "Or, it could take until the middle of June. I don't know until I can do quick movements without it hurting, and we're not there yet."

When the Brewers traveled to Cincinnati to begin a three-city trip, Hart remained in Milwaukee to continue his rehabilitation.

His most recent milestone was marked Wednesday, when Hart bore his full weight for the first time while running on a treadmill. He had previously been getting help from the team's AlterG anti-gravity treadmill, one of the toys of the Brewers' athletic training staff.

He has been hitting in the batting cage for at least 10 days, taking soft toss from coaches and seeing 90-mph fastballs from a pitching machine.

"I haven't hit on the field, but I could," Hart said. "Every day is a little different, and you just have to hope that when I have busy days, I don't come in with swelling. Now, it's just getting my leg ready to run. That's really all that I'm missing.

"I haven't had any setbacks since we started, and hopefully my leg keeps progressing. I'm getting to the point where I have to start doing more, and right now, the strength still isn't where I want it to be."

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brew Beat, and follow him on Twitter at @AdamMcCalvy. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.